Free Send a Gunboat (1960) by Douglas Reeman

his voice unsteady, “it sounds easy enough. But will these people want to leave? I mean, sir, s’pose they don’t want to be evacuated?” His eyes were clouded with fear.
    “They’ll leave,” answered Rolfe confidently. He had, in fact, been asking himself the same question over and over again since he had opened the orders. It seemed to be the major obstacle to the whole operation. No point in adding to Fallow’s misery, he concluded.
    Vincent stirred his long legs. “If we run into trouble, sir,” he shot a glance at Fallow meaningly, “what are our chances?”
    Rolfe eyed him thoughtfully before answering. “Depends on the stage of the operation,” he said at length. “Inshore, or inSantu itself, we’re on our own. We can, however, whistle up fresh forces once we’re clear of the mainland.” It’d be too late then, he thought.
    “I see, sir.” Vincent smiled slowly. “It’s one hell of a responsibility for you, isn’t it, sir?” he drawled.
    “It is no more than I would expect from any one of you,” snapped Rolfe. But inwardly he cursed Vincent for baring the thought which was uppermost in his mind. Suppose the people had planned it this way? The plan might be sound, but just suppose things started to go wrong. Rolfe knew only too well that a scapegoat might be required to placate the governments and authorities involved. Maybe this wasn’t just a chance to save his career, but an opportunity to save the face of some miserable politician. He shut his mind to the nagging fear, and concentrated on Herridge who was speaking in his rich, clear voice.
    “—and I was thinking it might not be advisable to allow shore leave for a bit, sir, until we know the true situation in Santu. I hope you don’t mind me mentioning that, sir?”
    “Not at all. I see you’ve not altered much since I last knew you! Still as forthright as ever!”
    The others stared at Herridge with wonder, and he flushed with pleasure. So he hadn’t forgotten after all, he thought.
    “Right then, starting tomorrow, a full routine!” He eyed them separately, his clear eyes thoughtful. “And another thing, I fully realize that some of you are leaving either the ship or the service in the near future, but I want you to clear it from your minds completely, and concentrate on the job in hand. Completely, understand?” He stood up, and they murmured their assents.
    As he left the chart room, and headed for his cabin, he said over his shoulder, “Officer-of-the-Watch, alter course as I’ve shown on the new chart, at twenty-two hundred!” The door closed.
    Vincent, who was the O.O.W., pushed his way back to the wheelhouse, and Louch slid quietly in the direction of his engine-room. The others stared at each other. Herridge was the first to speak.
    “Should be quite a party, eh, sir? Something to remember China by!” He grinned hugely, showing his strong teeth.
    Chase scratched his head, pouting. “We ain’t got much to fight with, if the gooks show up!”
    “Never mind, Tom, you just give ’em a bit of square-bashin’, that’ll fix ’em!” he laughed again.
    Fallow stared into nothingness, his mind jumping from one possible disaster to the next. Mary won’t know about this, he groaned, she’ll be expecting a letter, and if something goes wrong. He chilled, it’ll be in the papers before we’re back. If we get back. He twisted his hands together, locking and turning the fat fingers in time with his agony. These fools didn’t understand. They didn’t realize what the Captain was really like, and he was going to be the one they’d have to depend on. And this ship. He glared round like a trapped animal. What good would the poor little
Wagtail
be? The murdering swine, he thought wildly. I’ll never get home now. Never. And Mary will—he lurched to his feet, “Christ!” he said aloud. The others looked at him with amazement.
    “They’re mad, I tell you!” He waved his arms desperately. “Mad! If we get caught by